Boat seat supporting structure



July 30,'-1968 Y M. H. OLINK 3,394,417

BOAT SEAT SUPPORTING STRUCTURE Filed April 26, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR. MAUR/c' 02m/k LL rra@ vs July 30, 1968 M. H. OLINK BOAT SEATSUPPORTING STRUCTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 26,v 1967 M40/woe'.NO2/VK rradw .g

UQM. WWW MW July 30, 1968 M. H. O'LINK 3,394,417

BOAT SEAT SUPPORTING STRUCTURE Filed April 26, 1967 4 Sheets-Sheet 3FIEC r rara/E PIET@ July 30, 1968 M. H. OLINK BOAT SEAT SUPPORTINGSTRUCTURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 26. 1967 rrak United StatesPatent O7 ABSTRACT or THE DISCLOSURE A rail supported slidablyadjustable boat seat structure.

Background and summary of invention The invention herein is classifiedin class 9, Boats and Buoys, sub-class 7 for Seats.

Adjustable deck mounted boat seats are in fairly common use, but suchseats, to the inventors knowledge, are not secured to avoid bouncingwhen the boat is traveling through rough or turbulent waters.

It is an object of this invention to provide a boat seat structureslidably carried on an underlying rail support and having means inconnection therewith to minimize bouncing of the seat.

It is another object of this invention to provide a boat seatingarrangement comprising adjustable boat seats slidably supported on anunderlying rail with self operating means securing portions of saidseats to said rail against vertical movement.

More specifically it is an object of this invention to provide a boatseat structure comprising boat seats adjustable from upright sitting toreclining and prone positions, a supporting rail secured to the boatdeck, and means for sliding adjustment of said seats with respect tosaid rail, and means locking said seats to said rail.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be setforth in the following description made in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which like reference characters refer tosimilar parts throughout the several views and in which:

FIG. l is a broken view in vertical section showing the invention hereinin end elevation with a portion thereof broken away to show a detail ofconstruction;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. l showing the invention herein in asecond position with the adjusting movement thereof being shown indotted line;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. l showing the invention herein in athird position;

FIG. 4 is a view in horizontal section taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2 asindicated;

FIG. 5 is a broken view on a somewhat enlarged scale in vertical sectiontaken on line 5-5 of FIG. 3 as indicated;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view in side elevation on a somewhat enlargedscale taken on line 6-6 of FIG. 4 as indicated;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view in vertical section taken on line 7-7 ofFIG. 6 as indicated, showing a detail of construction on an enlargedscale;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 1 partially in elevation and partiallyin longitudinal vertical section showing a modification and showing achange in position by dotted line; i

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 showing an' alternate position of themodified structure;

FIG. 10 is a view in horizontal section taken on line 10-10 of FIG. 8 asindicated;

FIG. l1 is a broken view in vertical section on a some- 70 what enlargedscale taken on line 11-11 of FIG. 8 as indicated; and

3,394,417 Patented July 30, 1968 FIG. 12 is a broken view in verticalsection taken on line 12-12 of FIG. 10 showing a detail of constructionon an enlarged scale.

Description of a preferred embodiment Referring to the drawings, theinvention herein relates to a seat construction for boats. Only afragmentary portion of a boat is necessary to be shown for a fulldisclosure of the invention, and such a portion is indicated generallyby the numeral 10. Said boat 10 comprises a deck 12 supported by spacedtransversely disposed frames 14 resting on the boat bottom 16. A sideportion 18 of said boat is indicated and underlying said boat is a keel20.

The seat structure comprising the invention herein is indicatedgenerally by the character 25 and it comprises a supporting framework 27and a supported seat 30'.

It will be understood that the supporting framework may be variouslyformed and that the preferred embodiment here shown includes underlyingor base upstanding channel U-frame members 31, 32 and 33. It may well bestated here that it has been found very satisfactory to form the entiresupporting structure of extruded aluminum members either in channel formor as angled plate members as will be described.

Said channel U-frame members are in parallel longitudinally spacedalignment. Overlying the upper free end portions of said U-frame membersand being secured thereto as by welding are a pair of straight channelU- frame members 35 and 36` respectively having channels 38 and 39, withthe open sides of said frame members 35 and 36 being in facing relationwith respect to one another.

With reference to FIGS. 5 and 7, said channel members 35 and 36respectively have vertically facing flange portions 41-42 and 44-45- intheir facing open sides.

Supported on said -frame members 35 and 36 and partially overlying thesame are movable transverse pairs of seat brackets Sil-51 and 52-53.

Bracket 50 is a plate member extruded to have a step formation in crosssection having a lower step 50a, an upper step 50b and a connectingvertical web 50c. Said bracket is of a length to underlie a seat portionas shown and as will be described. The lower step 50a overlies the upperside of the channel member 36 and the upper step Stlb extends outwardlyof said channel member.

An elongated flat link member is pivotally riveted to the outer sidewall of the channel member 36 adjacent the free end 36a thereof by arivet 63. Said link 60 at its other end is pivoted to said bracket 50 tothe outer side of the web 50c thereof by a rivet 63, and is pivotedthereto at a point about one-third yof the length of said bracket fromits outer free end 50d with reference to the adjacent free end of theframe member 36.

At the inner end portion 50a of said bracket 50 is an angle brackethaving its horizontal side portion 65a overlying the step portion 50aand being secured thereto by a pair of spaced rivets 66 with itsdepending side wall 65b overlying the inner open side of said framemember 36. Said side wall 65h is shown here inclined rearwardly.

Slidable within said channel 39 is a bearing block 68 which issatisfactorily formed of an appropriate plastic material, such as ofnylon. Said bearing block is indicated as being substantiallyparallelepiped in fonn having a pair of vertically aligned longitudinalgrooves 68a and 68b in the upper and lower faces thereof adjacent oneside thereof and being adapted to receive therein said pair of flanges44-45.

Said bearing block is of a width and is so positioned as to be spacedinwardly of the outer side wall of said channel member 36. The upper andlower surfaces of said blocks are longitudinally grooved to providefreely moving bearing surfaces.

Said depending wall 65b of said bracket 65 is pivotally secured to saidbearing block 68 at the open side of said channel member 65 through thelongitudinal slot formed between flanges 44-45 by an appropriatetransversely disposed nutted bolt 70.

Thus as the leading end portion 50d of said bracket 50 is raised, thelink 60 swings upwardly and the bracket 65 with the bearing block 68slides freely within the channel 39. Said bracket is movable from arearward position in which it overlies the frame member 36 to a forwardposition in which approximately two-thirds of its length extendsforwardly of said frame member 36.

It will be understood that the extent to which said bracket 50 ismovable forwardly or rearwardly is dependent upon the length of the link60.

Overlying the upper surfaces of the free end portions of the framemembers 35 aud 36 are elongate-d resilient self securing pads 72 asindicated in FIG. 6, with respect to the member 36.

Bracket 50 and its related elements have been described in detailrepresentative of the brackets 51-53. Bracket 51 is a mirror image ofthe bracket 50. Brackets 52-53 are respectively identical with thebrackets 50-51 being disposed and operating in a reverse direction. Theportions of the brackets are correspondingly indicated. The elementsattached thereto and operating therewith are identical with those ofsaid bracket 50 and bear like numerals.

Carried on said brackets 50-53 and secured thereto by appropriate means,such as screws 74 is said supported seat structure 30.

Said seat structure 30 consists of a double back to back seatarrangement comprising seat portions 77 and 79 respectively having backrest portions 78 and 80. Said back rest portions are pivoted together attheir adjacent ends by a hinge 82. 'Said seat portions and theirrespective back rest portions are pivoted together by hidden hinges asindicated at 84 and 86.

Operation With reference to FIG. 1, the seat portions 77 and 79 arepositioned to have their back rest portions 78 and 80 in mutuallyengaging upright positions. The brackets 50- 51 and 52-53 are positionedin retracted positions overlying the frame members 35 and 36 their fullextent.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the first adjustment position is shown with thebrackets 50-51 being positioned to be extended with reference to theframe members 35 and 36. The free end of the seat is simply raised andpulled forwardly. The link 60 is pulled through its arc and the bearing`blocks 60 slide within the channels of said members 35 and 36. The backrest portions are now positioned for reclining. The bearing blocks holdthe rear end portions of -the seat portions 77 and 79 secure against anyvertical movement and against jolting and bouncing.

With reference to FIG. 3, the brackets 52-53 are swung outwardly toextended positions 78 and 80 and positioned to provide a prone or ilathorizontal surface across the entire seating arrangement.

It is seen that said brackets extend the effective length of saidchannel members 35 and 36 and provide for ready adjustment of saidsectional seat structure 30 for use from upright sitting to reclining orprone positions.

M odi fcation With reference to FIGS. 8-12, a modilication of the abovedescribed structure is shown in which elements of the structureidentical with those above described are indicated by like charactersand where unnecessary are not further mentioned.

Supported by the frame members 35 and 36 in lieu of the brackets 50-53is an elongated swingable support 90 comprising side channel framemembers 91 and 92 having a similar U-channel supporting or foot member93 at the free end thereof. Said swingable support will be of a width toiit between the members 35 and 36. Said members 91 and 92 at their innerfree ends 91a and 92a will be pivoted to bearing blocks 68 which will beslidable within the channels of the members 35 and 36 as lirst abovedescribed. Also a cross member 96 extends between said members adjacenttheir free ends. Said support is here indicated as having a lengthapproximately two-thirds of the length of said members 35 and 36.

Secured directly onto said members 35 and 36 extending somewhat beyondtheir end portions adjacent the support member 33 is the seat portion79. Secured directly onto the members 91 and 92 and extending somewhatthere'beyond adjacent said support member 93 is the seat portion 77.

Thus of the supporting frame structure, only the portion 90 is movable.

The seating structure 30 is adjustable to any desired extent by theextension of the supporting structure 90 as indicated in FIG. 8, and theseat 30 is shown fully extended in FIG. 9.

With particular reference ot FIGS. 10 and 1l, the foot supporting member93 is shown in locked position.

The seat portion 77 will be secured to the members 91 and 92 in such aposition thereon that when the back rest portions 78 and v80 are inupright position, the support member 93 will be positioned at the innerside of the support member 31 engaging the ground supported web portion31a thereof under some degree of pressure resulting from the pressure ofthe engagement between said back rest portions. In this position, saidseat structure is secured against bouncing or jarring.

Thus it is seen that I have provided a simple, etiicient and unusuallysatisfactory boat seat supporting structure providing for positiveadjustment in the arrangement of the seats supported thereon.

It will of course be understood that various changes may be made in theform, details, arrangement and proportions of the parts, withoutdeparting from the scope of applicants invention which, generallystated, consists in a device capable of carrying out the objects aboveset forth, in the parts and combinations of parts disclosed and dened inthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A boat seat supporting structure having in combination,

a supporting frame structure comprising a pair of laterally spacedparallel channel members having facing sides respectively comprisingspaced vertical flanges defining a longitudinal slot therebetween,

a movable support member,

slidable means in connection with said channel members,

said slidable means comprising bearing blocks respectively having a pairof vertically aligned grooves in the upper and lower faces thereof, saidbearing blocks being disposed in said channel members receiving saidspaced flanges within the spaced grooves thereof,

means securing said movable support member to said bearing blocks,

a sectional seat structure carried on said support member comprising apair of seat portions having adjacent back rest portions in a back toback relationship, said back rest portions being respectively hinged tosaid seat portions, and

one of said seat portions being secured to said support member.

2. A boat seat supporting structure having in combination,

a supporting frame structure comprising a pair of laterally spacedparallel channel members having facing sides, said facing sidesrespectively comprising spaced vertical flanges defining a longitudinalslot therebetween,

longitudinally spaced U-shaped supports supporting same frame structure,

a movable support member,

slidable means in connection with said channel members,

said slidable means comprising bearing blocks respectively having a pairof vertically aligned grooves in the upper and lower faces thereof, saidbearing blocks respectively being disposed within said channel membersreceiving said spaced anges within the spaced grooves thereof,

means securing said movable support member to said bearing blocks,

said movable support member having a U-shaped support at one endthereof, said support having a lesser width and being movable throughsaid tirst mentioned supports, and

said last mentioned support being constructed and arranged to bedisposed at the inner side of one of said first mentioned supports forlocking engagement with the bottom portion thereof.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,383,837 8/1945 Ashmusen 5-1742,971,568 2/1961 Rorie et al. 155-45 3,095,234 6/ 1963 Brooks et al.297-65 3,107,940 10/ 1963 Brooks et al. 297-63 FOREIGN PATENTS 429,00112/ 1948 Italy. 570,116 12/1957 Italy.

MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner. R. DORNON, Assistant Examiner.

